Tornado siren project moves forward with bid opening

At the weekly meeting on Monday, Sept. 23 at the Old Jail in Millersburg, the Holmes County commissioners finally found the success they had sought earlier in attempting to replace or repair the county’s failing tornado siren system.

The commissioners held a bid opening for the county’s tornado siren replacement project, receiving two bids, both of which came in under Holmes County Emergency Management Agency Director Jason Troyer’s estimated bid of $360,000.

On Thursday, Aug. 29, the Holmes County commissioners passed a resolution rejecting all bids for the initial replacement of eight tornado sirens and the installation of a ninth one on Wally Road near Loudonville.

That rejection was due in large part to one key element in the initial proposal that was sent out for bid, which stated that companies had to meet a strict 60-day date of compliance or face additional financial penalties.

With that stipulation removed on the rebid process, the county opened the bids of two companies seeking to secure the job. Vasu Communications Inc. of Mansfield came in at a bid of $307,230.91 while Federal Signal entered a bid of $315,818.01.

The two proposals will now go to Troyer, who will review it and get back to the commissioners with his recommendation.

A resolution also was passed to permit the process of brine application for Miller Lumber, located at 7101 state Route 39. The commissioner held a hearing the morning of Sept. 23 and heard no complaints.

Commissioner Dave Hall said it was a renewal for the company that has been applying brine for many decades for the purpose of dust control.

Resolution 09-23-24-2 was passed, accepting a bid for the Berlin state Route 39 sanitary sewer project.

The bid, which was recommended by Holmes County engineer Chris Young, was through Driven Excavating in the amount of $625,569.75.

“That’s a good price and a good company,” commissioner Joe Miller said.

Hall said in speaking with Young that there was a thorough background check done and that Driven Excavating has a strong, reputable record of doing quality work.

Resolution 09-23-24-3 was passed, accepting sanitary sewer improvements made by Troyer Land LTD at 5201 County Road 77.

According to the resolution, construction of the sanitary sewer was completed and inspected in accordance with Young, who recommended the sanitary sewer extension and improvements become part of the Holmes County wastewater treatment system.

Hall said the commissioners were appreciative of a company stepping up and taking on the expense and challenge of creating the addition.

“This will be a good addition along that corridor,” Miller said.

The commissioners also passed Resolution 09-23-24-4, approving the notice to proceed for the building demolition and revitalization work for Holmes County DSRP package E with alternate #1.

The board approved the county to proceed for the building demolition package to Martin Construction & Demo LLC in the amount of $24,900.

According to Arnie Oliver, Holmes County planning commissioner, this project is an ongoing grant from the state that is designed to provide counties and communities with the ability to raze dilapidated and unwanted buildings to beautify the surrounding communities in which the work is done.

According to Oliver, this current round of demolition work is for the property that is the former Holmes County Fairgrounds structure, along with a structure in Holmesville that will be razed with a wonderful end game in mind.

“That structure will be taken down and replaced with a Habitat (for Humanity) house,” Oliver said. “They are anxious to start that, so that will probably be the first one that comes down.”

He said these projects will finish out the 2023 demolition grant funds.

The next round of 2024 funds will begin soon, with an estimated 25 properties set to be razed, all of them being smaller properties.

Hall said the state is already looking into creating another round of statewide demolition funds for 2025.

In other county news, Troyer said he is working on a cybersecurity draft that will be ready to present soon.

“Not many counties have a plan for that,” he said.

He also is working on a crisis communication plan for the county.

In addition, the EMA is currently in the midst of moving Holmes County to a Storm Ready County.

An SRA is a designation from the National Weather Service that means the county would meet certain criteria in receiving critical information during an inclement weather event.

The EMA then would distribute that information to the community.

Troyer said that includes having someone serve as a liaison between the county and the NWS.

Oliver said the county has received notification that funds for the Downtown Grant have been approved by the state for building renovations. That process would include renovations for the Van Curren property, American Hall and the building that formerly housed Jackpot Pottery.

Finally, Susan Schie, county commissioner clerk, said the lighting project for the courthouse continues to move forward, with the process currently awaiting a second half of samples that would allow KLH Engineering of Cincinnati to do a demo project to see if that is where the county prefers to have their lighting placed.